Reminder that Charlottesville will cease paying to access the data. The actual cameras aren't going anywhere and aren't turned off as a result of this decision. They are going to keep collecting data and making it accessible for surveillance.
Charlottesville will need to either pressure the company to take them down (good luck), or black bag them. I'm only finding news sources on the topic that don't have name recognition (so take with a grain of salt). But here, in Eugene OR, the cameras were still transmitting data after "being discontinued".
The city has every right to take down those cameras from the public right-of-way, authorized by the city as a 12-month pilot funded by a donation from the Charlottesville Police Foundation (which in turn came from a mysterious 'anonymous donor' aka Flock). It's certainly worth following up to make sure the city removes them in a timely manner, but Flock can't just leave their equipment in the city right-of-way if the city wants them gone.
Yeah, when franchise agreements for utilities were set up the city allowed them to abandon in place the infrastructure (wires, poles, etc.) And thats part of why we have polls blocking sidewalks even after Dominion moves their equipment to better place poles across the street. If the city used the same terms for FLOCK then they aren't required to take it down. So it will all depend on the terms of the original contract about what happens later.
Yeah I ran into this new parking garage system, scanned the QR code, read all the fine print about how they’re gonna use the data, and I didn’t continue. What happens when you just leave the garage without fully registering for the service? Because I did that twice
I would assume there is a fine for violating the parking rules (assuming you actually parked for more than 1hr to trigger a balance). These companies are unlikely to take it on the chin long term and there are plenty of ways for them to find out who you are. They are held to no standard of evidence which is how you can get billed for your same tag number that is on an entirely different vehicle from another state should it park there. That or they start having boot crews working the garage if there are a lot of habitual offenders.
No receipts, no way to challenge failure to read the exit time, or incorrect license plate readings. And just like FLOCK, it is a potential privacy imposition depending on how well they manage data security. I don't like living in a surveillance state for just a little convenience.
It's good these are gone, but it's my understanding that law enforcement vehicles are outfitted with license plate readers. I don't think CPD is currently using them, but they can activate them any time.
CPD uses them to enforce parking in the Water Street surface lot. They're certainly not on every car (they're very obvious roof-mounted cameras) and are not tied to a central data warehouse for dissemination to other law enforcement agencies like Flock is.
Were any of those cameras already put up in Cville? If they are, I have a feeling that pressure needs to be done to take them down completely, since I'm reading on that thread that some of them aren't getting taken down. (Others have taken them down within a day and have them in garbage bags, but not all of them).
Hopefully the surrounding towns and counties don't get the same idea. Greene seems to be flirting with them.
So far I haven't heard anything from Albemarle, but you never know. If they are doing things in Albemarle or adjacent communities, wouldn't it be fair to be informed about it?
There are a lot of areas in the state near us that still have FLOCK cameras, their potential use of the data in ways that conflicted with the city’s privacy and data retention policies was part of the concerns that led to people asking for their elimination in town.
They are. Announced a few days ago that cville is canceling the PILOT
That's awesome. I'm glad to hear they are not going ahead with it.
Non-Paywalled Article
Good read, thank you.
Reminder that Charlottesville will cease paying to access the data. The actual cameras aren't going anywhere and aren't turned off as a result of this decision. They are going to keep collecting data and making it accessible for surveillance.
Charlottesville will need to either pressure the company to take them down (good luck), or black bag them. I'm only finding news sources on the topic that don't have name recognition (so take with a grain of salt). But here, in Eugene OR, the cameras were still transmitting data after "being discontinued".
https://therecord.media/flock-safety-cameras-remained-active-after-cities-asked-turned-off
The city has every right to take down those cameras from the public right-of-way, authorized by the city as a 12-month pilot funded by a donation from the Charlottesville Police Foundation (which in turn came from a mysterious 'anonymous donor' aka Flock). It's certainly worth following up to make sure the city removes them in a timely manner, but Flock can't just leave their equipment in the city right-of-way if the city wants them gone.
Yeah, when franchise agreements for utilities were set up the city allowed them to abandon in place the infrastructure (wires, poles, etc.) And thats part of why we have polls blocking sidewalks even after Dominion moves their equipment to better place poles across the street. If the city used the same terms for FLOCK then they aren't required to take it down. So it will all depend on the terms of the original contract about what happens later.
Now we just need to get rid of the new parking garage system!
Yeah I ran into this new parking garage system, scanned the QR code, read all the fine print about how they’re gonna use the data, and I didn’t continue. What happens when you just leave the garage without fully registering for the service? Because I did that twice
I would assume there is a fine for violating the parking rules (assuming you actually parked for more than 1hr to trigger a balance). These companies are unlikely to take it on the chin long term and there are plenty of ways for them to find out who you are. They are held to no standard of evidence which is how you can get billed for your same tag number that is on an entirely different vehicle from another state should it park there. That or they start having boot crews working the garage if there are a lot of habitual offenders.
Same thing that happens when you drive through EZpass without registering…
There’s a grace period. If you truly drove in read the instructions and got scared for whatever reason, then you can just drive out. No consequences.
Oh my goodness, yesssss
Why it’s so easy. Drive in. Drive out. I’ve done it like 20 times
Unless this is a “omg my dataaaaa” comment
You people will light yourselves on fire for the dumbest shit. I want to know what you people are so scared of
No receipts, no way to challenge failure to read the exit time, or incorrect license plate readings. And just like FLOCK, it is a potential privacy imposition depending on how well they manage data security. I don't like living in a surveillance state for just a little convenience.
Oh god the dramatics. Please enter the dustbin where you belong
All of your concerns are also addressed. There are receipts. And a way to challenge. This is just hysterics
If flock doesn't collect and remove their equipment, can the community cull it themselves? I'd like an update on progress of Flock Removal
Also would like our neighbors in Stony Point to get rid of their flock cameras on their property facing the road.
Yes, already have contacted ACPD and they aren’t even sure how they have them, but legally can, but very gray area in the law.
Whereabouts in SP? Would love to know what road they are facing.
Gilbert Station Road, closer to 20 than not.
It's good these are gone, but it's my understanding that law enforcement vehicles are outfitted with license plate readers. I don't think CPD is currently using them, but they can activate them any time.
CPD uses them to enforce parking in the Water Street surface lot. They're certainly not on every car (they're very obvious roof-mounted cameras) and are not tied to a central data warehouse for dissemination to other law enforcement agencies like Flock is.
They won't be gone. C'ville just won't access the data. They'll still be collecting.
Were any of those cameras already put up in Cville? If they are, I have a feeling that pressure needs to be done to take them down completely, since I'm reading on that thread that some of them aren't getting taken down. (Others have taken them down within a day and have them in garbage bags, but not all of them).
There are 10 up in Charlottesville. It was announced at city council Monday that they will be coming down. It hasn't happened yet though.
[ Removed by Reddit ]
You right - Oral surgery and Percocet decimated my reading skills. ⭐🎄🎶
We did, I thought! All the unhinged residents objected.
They aren't unhinged to reject it.
The original poster called those who opposed it in Staunton "unhinged."
The info said the Flock CEO was the one who sent an “un-hinged”, unsolicited e-mail to the Staunton city council.
You are right - I am sorry! Percocet and oral surgery early in the week left me grumpy and not reading carefully. ⭐🎄🎶
learn to read.
[deleted]
It's very nearby?
Yep.
Hopefully the surrounding towns and counties don't get the same idea. Greene seems to be flirting with them.
So far I haven't heard anything from Albemarle, but you never know. If they are doing things in Albemarle or adjacent communities, wouldn't it be fair to be informed about it?
There are a lot of areas in the state near us that still have FLOCK cameras, their potential use of the data in ways that conflicted with the city’s privacy and data retention policies was part of the concerns that led to people asking for their elimination in town.